Improvement in panniers or bustles



UNITED STATES' Pll'Iiai-lv'l*l OFFICE.

ELZABETH s. WELDON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

-IMPROVEMENTIN PANNlERS QR BUSTLES.

Specification forming-part of Letters Patent No. l 73,700, dated- February 15, 1876; application filed October 23., 1875.

To'ctll lwhom it may concern: 1

Beit known that I, ELIZABETH STOWELL WELDoN, of New York, in the county of New York, and Stateof New York. have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Pann'iers, of which the following is a specification:

This invention .relates to certain improvements in ladies skeleton panniers or bustles,

its object being to provide suchpanniers or bustles with a bearing surface, which will rest upon andconform to the body,` and it consists," first, in bending or curving the ends of the springs composing the main body of the pannier outwardly, in such manner that when secured between the strips of fabric, by which they are held together, a bearing-surface will' attached adj ustably to the lower spring, for the purpose of preserving the shape of said spring,

.and giving additional rigidity to the pannier,

substantially as .hereinafter set forth and de scribed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved palmier, and Fig. 2 a detached view of a portion of the pannier, showing the method of securing the lsprings between the bindingstrips of fabric.

The letter A represents a series of dat springs or wires which form the main portion of the skeleton of the pannier, which are preferably covered with woven fabric, as usual. The ends of said springs, at their point of attachment to the binding-strips B, are secured so as to set almost at right angles to the other portion of said springs, said bent ends resting flatly between said binding-strips,pthe whole forming a tlat bearing-surface, lying in such position in regard to the main body of the completed pannier as to rest squarely against the body of the wearer when the pannier is in position, the flat sides of the bent portions falling against the body instead of the extreme ends, as in the springs as ordinarily constructed and secured.

AsV thus constructed, 'the strainof the springs upon the fabric is distributed over a flat surface of considerable extent, instead of being borne by the sharp extrelneends of the springs, and for this reason they are not liable to out through the binding-fabric like the ordinary springs.

In order to give the proper rigidity to the y binding-strips B, a dat spring-preferably a twin spring, O--is conlined between the sides of said strips, the ends ofthe springs A being secured to said springs C by means of the metallic `loops D, which are clasped on the ends of said springs A, and the edges of the springs A are furthersecured by means of the eyelets E, the edges of which are made to bind over the edges of said springs, thus holding both the springs A and G irmlyiu place within the binding strip. The springs A,

just at the bend or curve at their ends, are also attachedto the inner edge of the binding-strip B by means ofV the usual metallic clamps F.

The letters G G represent two auxiliary springs, attached to the upper `ends of the springs C C, and extending across each other to the lower spring A of the pannier, to which f they are loosely attached by means of the metallic loops H H secured to theirI ends, and extending around the said spring 'in such manner that they may be moved freely along the spring A to allow of adjustment.

These springs serve to give additional rigid ity to the pannier and preserve its shape when subjected to a crushing strain, their adjustability allowing the pannier to be folded compactly when not in use or for transportation. The springs A are secured together at 'their rear by means of a broad strip of fabric, I, to which they are attached at suitable points by means of the ordinary clamps, or in any other convenient manner, and the binding-strips are all attached to a waist-band, K, as usual. To the inner sides of the binding-strips B are attached lstrips L L, strengthened at their edges by dat springs, and provided with eyelets for the lacing M, which forms a bearing against the body, and by means of which the curve of the pannier may be adjusted.

The bustle as thus constructed, with the springs outwardly bent at the ends, and secured to the strips L L, connected by lacing strings BL forms a resting-surface that can hc adj-usted to tit any wearer by simplyl drawing the strips L L together, or separating the outwardly-curved ends, clasping or embracing the rear and side portions of the body, andtting accurately thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. The bustle or pannier composed of the springs A bent outwardly at the ends, as d escribed, in combination With the strips B, and

. lacing-strips L, forming a bearing-surface that can be adapted to tit the bodies of the various wearels, substantially as described.

2. The combination substantially as herein described, of the springs A, binding-strips B,

`A, to which they are loosely attached, in

order to permit adjustment, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I

have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ELIZABETH STOWELL WELDON.

Witnesses:

W. H. MELICK W. READ. 

